Partners
The Bell Aliant Pioneer Volunteers is the largest corporate based volunteer organization in Atlantic Canada. The close to 9,000 members is comprised of current and former Bell Aliant employees and its predecessor companies. The Health Care Foundation is truly fortunate to have the Aliant Pioneers as ongoing partners of our activities. Their support includes organization and volunteer staffing for our Annual Golf Tournament and Hearty Feast, volunteer support for the Eleganza dinner and assistance with the Tree of Memories appeal. The volunteer hours contributed to the Aliant Pioneers to Health Care Foundation events are considerable. We thank them sincerely for their ongoing support.
The General Hospital Auxiliary was formed in 1968. Since its inception more than 40 years ago, the Auxiliary has raised more than $2.75 million for the General Hospital. With 40-50 actively involved volunteers, the Auxiliary raises the majority of its money through the operation of the General Hospital Gift Shop, located in the Health Sciences Centre. They also regularly hold raffles and bake sales. Funds raised are primarily spent on medical equipment. In recent years, their support has provided for state-of-the-art equipment for Orthopedic Surgery and Cardiac Care. They also provide funding for staff scholarships. In October, 2007, the General Hospital Auxiliary pledged a $300,000 commitment to the Health Care Foundation for the Give from the Heart campaign. In addition to their monetary support, General Hospital Auxiliary members volunteer hundreds of volunteer hours visiting patients and their families.
The St. Clare's Hospital Auxiliary is a group of dedicated individuals who have been providing support to the patients, families and staff of St. Clare's Mercy Hospital since 1967. Over the past 42 years, the Auxiliary has raised more than $1.8 million, enabling the purchases of new equipment such as patient monitors, a sleep studies lab, scholarships for staff and volunteers, and funding those special requests that help make a patient's stay a little more comfortable. The Auxiliary has just completed their $160,000 pledge to the Ears Nose Throat Program (ENT), for a 3D computer image-guided system seen in the above photo. We thank these devoted and caring individuals for giving so much, so willingly!
For 25 years, the Lions District 41-S2 has faithfully supported the Eye Clinic at the General Hospital and raised $400,000 for this cause through its Journey for Sight and Diabetes Cavalcade fundraisers. The Lions have been an instrumental force in supporting opthalmology services in our province and their volunteer efforts have funded many pieces of equipment for this clinic in the past quarter century. The support of Lions District 41-S2 has provided our opthalmologists with the tools they need to deliver excellent quality eye care to the 8000 people from across the province who use the Eye Clinic's services each year.
In the 1940s, at a time when mental illness was rarely acknowledged and psychiatric patients were shunned, the Caribou Group of the Rotary Club of St. John's chose the Hospital for Mental & Nervous Diseases (later renamed the Waterford Hospital) as their charity of choice. The Caribou Group have been strong financial supporters of the hospital, and most importantly they have given of their time by organizing patient activities such as dances, boat rides, bingo, BBQs and operating the canteen. The group spearheaded the construction of the Waterford Chapel, and also established a rehabilitation workshop and a greenhouse to provide occupational therapy. Most recently, the Caribou Group donated $10,000 to refit the gymnasium to provide fitness facilities for Waterford patients. This exemplary group of volunteers has truly lived up to the Rotary motto of Service Above Self.
The Health Care Foundation is grateful for the generosity and kindness of community-minded supporters such as the Beothuck Street Players Theatre Company, who supported the Foundation by donating a portion of ticket sales from their 2009 production of Tuesdays with Morrie.
The IODE Shore of Nine Points Chapter is a busy group. From sponsoring needy families at Christmas ... to purchasing hygiene kits for the Street Outreach Program ... to adopting a classroom in Northern Labrador, this group embodies its slogan, "Women dedicated to a better Canada." Recently, the Chapter donated funds to the Health Care Foundation's Comfort in Care program, toward the purchase of a sleeper chair. The Health Care Foundation is grateful to the membership for their generosity and commitment. For more information on the IODE Shore of Nine Points Chapter, contact Ettie Bursey at (709) 834.8870.
